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Children’s library inundated with water

By Steve Jusseaume (Photos and editing by William Teschek)

Hampton Union, January 16, 2004

HAMPTON - Broken heating pipes led to a minor flood and the closure of the downstairs children’s library at Lane Memorial Library on Thursday.

"The pipes burst sometime in the dead of night last night. The cleaning service found the problem at 6:30 this morning. The fire department was called in, they shut the water off and help protect some books and computers from the deluge," Assistant Director Bill Teschek said yesterday morning.

The carpet in the children’s room, on the bottom floor of the two-story library, was soaked through, with some puddling of water in the middle of the room. "There was about half-an-inch of water in places," Teschek said, adding that well-over 500 children’s book were ruined, and two computers and a printer received some water damage, as did some of the room's furniture.

A heating contractor was called in to fix the system, and a carpet company has been called to remove the water and dry out the carpet. The children’s room is closed today. Teschek said the children’s room will be closed into next week. The daily children’s story hour sessions have been canceled next week, and some additional events might also have to be canceled.

The adult library room was not damaged, and heat was restored to the building by the time it opened Thursday. The library will be open as usual while repairs are made to the downstairs room. Teschek said people with children’s books checked out should hold on to them until the room is back in shape.

"All fines will be forgiven while the children’s room is closed," Teschek said.